Sounders FC is a prideful club that strives for success in every competition it enters. That is never more prevalent than in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, where Seattle became just the second MLS club to lift the championship for a fourth year, joining the Chicago Fire.
The historical significance of those four championships isn’t lost on the club, even while it remains in pursuit of three other trophies in the 2014 season – the Cascadia Cup, the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.
“It’s really special for the players this year and the goals we set,” Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. “It’s such a difficult tournament. You can’t have an off night. You look at our record since we came to MLS and to be able to win these cups and it’s a really big deal to the club. As a player, I was never able to get to the final of the Open Cup, so I realize how difficult it is to do.”
The championship signaled a return to the podium for Sounders FC – where the club had dominated in its first three years until finally falling in a shootout in the 2012 final against Sporting Kansas City.
With four players – Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez, Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso – who have been with the team for all four titles, there is also a good mix of young players and savvy veterans who sought titles themselves.
However, Henderson points to the leadership of those four enduring players and the ones who came before them for establishing a winning culture in Seattle that has remained throughout the club’s existence.
“That culture and tradition is really important if you’re at a club that’s going to win something. You need that history and the players to pass it on to the new players. Having the four guys that won it before set the culture and the new players saw that it’s a big deal and they want to be a part of it,” Henderson said. “That tradition was set even before we came into MLS with the success of the USL Sounders in this tournament. The group of players who joined us really passed on how important it is for the club.”
READ: 'Unbelievable' feeling for the four Sounders who have been part of each Open Cup title
While Seattle played its first four matches of the tournament at home to reach the final, it took a dramatic effort on the road to lift the fourth Open Cup title in six years. With over 300 fans on the road supporting the team and those that packed Starfire Stadium, Seattle was flush with support throughout the tournament.
That, according to Henderson, helped the team through otherwise difficult stretches in the schedule to succeed in the Open Cup.
“Our fan support has been huge for us when we have home games,” he said. “In Seattle the fans and the club know the significance of winning this.”
By winning the Open Cup again, Seattle earned a return to the CONCACAF Champions League for the 2015-2016 tournament. In 2013, Sounders FC made MLS history by becoming the first MLS side to knock off a Mexican opponent in the Knockout Round, earning a comeback win over Tigres in the quarterfinal. Getting back into the Champions League again sets Seattle on course to achieve another goal – reaching the FIFA Club World Cup.
“We still have that goal to be the first MLS team at the FIFA Club World Cup,” Henderson said, noting the reward for winning Champions League. “The next time we are in the tournament we plan on advancing further than we have before and we want to represent MLS in that tournament. That’s a goal that we have continued to have.”
